To think the cost of food is rising significantly?

[NotWithABang]

Or is it just me? The last few weeks/months when I've been food shopping, I've noticed the cost appears to be going up and up.
I shop mostly in Lidl and Aldi too, so it's not as though I'm shopping in M&S or Waitrose (where I would expect my shop to be costly). It cost me nearly £1 for a pack of six small, unbranded fromage frais. I spent nearly £40 for three of us (one of whom is 3) and it won't last us more than probably the weekend, that was with only buying one pack of meat. No nappies or cleaning products included in that, nothing from the 'magical middle aisles'. All just basic food, some fruit and veg for meals and lunches this week. I used to be able to get away with spending £25 on the top up shop a week/every 10 days, after doing one big monthly shop for about £70. Now it's more like £100 for the monthly shop, and about £40 a week topping up.

Good point Japan.

Sally is it actually worth growing potatoes? I'm starting my own veg this year but sticking to things that cost little to grow but can be expensive in the shops. How many potatoes do you get for the effort?

There are still areas of the uk where house prices are affordable

Though not so much for the majority of the people living in them, of course. I say this as someone who lives in a cheap area and is reasonably comfortable myself- but my household income is rather higher than the local median. That's why the prices are so low...

All this negative talk about Post Brexit and the subs being stopping/being stopped, and that is why food is getting dearer.

Is that why food has always been generally dearer in the rest of Europe (apart from fags and booze, obviously)? Because they have been subbing the UK?

Seriously?

Roll on Brexit.

potatoes are easy. Stick them in and for every one you plant you'll get around 5/8 decent sized potatoes in return. We had masses last year. They're particularly easy in raised beds since the digging out is so much easier.

Don't let stupid tomatoes anywhere near them though. Blight will ruin your crop.

We are farmers.

We are the only industry in this country buying everything in at retail price, selling everything at wholesale price and paying the haulage both ways.

It’s the middle man bleeding the industry - google the dairy crisis and look at what the likes of Arla and Tesco’s are top slicing on farmers, it’s disgusting.

Valentine

I think so, yes.

I grow 1st earlies, 2nd earlies, late spuds etc.

New potatoes, old potatoes, spuds big enough for baked ones.

I store them in hessian sacks in a cool place, and it is surprising how long they will store for. I also chit them to grow on next year - so never need to buy again.

You can grow them is large pots, hessian sacks, raised beds, or straight in the ground.

Nowt better than spuds straight out the soil, cooked and eaten within 20 minutes :)

Supermarkets store their spuds for MONTHS, but they are never as nice as home grown.

Frilly

Hence why I prefer to use my local greengrocer or grow my own.

Sorry, as I know that doesn't help you at all.

I HATE supermarkets, most of them have terrible ethics - especially Tesco.

At least if if we get Brexit we may be able to afford somewhere to live! All the constant brexit diggers and moaners really annoy me, everything is Brexits fault according to them, when this was always coming anyway (UK's long standing economic problems, nothing to do with Brexit!). But why let the truth get in the way?

I went shopping yesterday, there's four of us in this house. A EBF 6 month old. A 3 yr old and 2 adult. One who works nights so rarely eats.

Cost me 57 quid for 4 bags of shopping. That's in aldi.
Didn't even get branded things.

It's a bloody joke.

In what way was membership of the eu stopping you from affording somewhere to live?

Do tell 'the truth'- this is going to be fascinating.

A half pound of butter in Lidl has increased from £1.35 to £1.45 in a week!

YANBU, but plenty will come along to scold you and everyone else and tell you that food's been too cheap for years and years, that we all eat too much and price rises are a great thing because we're also all obese, blah blah blah fuckload of nonsense.

I use lots of butter. Not long ago 250g of sainsburys own brand butter was 78p. Its now more than double that.

There are however particular reason why butter prices are rising so dramatically.

Agree that growing potatoes is really easy and doesn't take up much space. Have grown them in old compost bags on a balcony- no garden. Now have a potato tower which I've had for years which is a bit prettier but would use compost bag if didn't have tower.

helmutbymidnight people like me will get sent home making all the houses free. Or something. I suppose my British husband and children might feel word about people moving in with them though.

That's ignoring the fact there's plenty of space to build now just no one is doing it. Or that they're are loads of houses sitting empty and rent is going mental and unchecked and that gov help to buy schemes are crap.

I've been convinced, I'm going try potatoes this year.

And will keep them away from my stupid tomatoes

Growing your own is a really great thing to do with the kids and you don’t need loads of room. We do tomatoes out the front where it’s a sun trap, in pots and strawberries in our delapidated greenhouse. Strawberries do really well in hanging baskets too.

I don't think food has risen in price that much so far, my weekly bill hasn't increased much .

After brexit I think we will really start to see some eye watering price increases. That is what 52% were told would happen and yet they voted for it anyway. I will be complaining about it when I'm hungry, brexiters better keep quiet if they are in my vicinity or they might get a mouthful (not of food).

The cost of cheap and tummy filler foods, sweets, chocolate, crisps - all the rubbish foods have come down in price I think. Real food has increased and of course it's because of Brexit. You would be incredibly naive to think otherwise.

Factor in no increase in wages and a possible hike in interest rates and I will suspect the food bill will get higher. Less left to spend on clothes and toys.

I for one do not look forward to buying cheap hormone and antibiotic meats from the USA to supplement my diet. If that's my choice then I will eat less meat and more carbs.

Less meat is great for the planet. Lentils and pulses are a worthy substitute.

potatoes are really fun for DC too since they grow quickly and are fun to dig up. Mine are nearly 13 and 10 and they still loved it.

I still spend the same 65-80 for a family of five. I meal plan and I tend to shop the offers at Tesco got a whole chicken £3.25 a pork joint £2.50 etc I use the scan and shop and it’s brilliant for keeping in budget today I managed to get 7 large Easter eggs at £2 each plus 7 meals for £67 today that included cereal, coffee,strawberries and raspberries and bananas.

Also if you have the space then fill the freezer up with reductions. I have all sorts of yellow stickers stuff in mine that I’m slowly ploughing through. It’s a frozen lucky dip most days

It's currently white out here in South Cheshire because of the snow. Thankfully I did my shopping this morning, after my shift. I managed to get cheap and nutritious food, all veggie, for half price and locally. This means I can afford to keep the house warm.

I really feel for those who struggle with feeding their children and having a warm house. I know several families where the parents will do without in order that their children have a dinner on the table.